Thursday, March 1, 2012

St. Catherine embroidery design

A building was at last erected for its reception, where it has been on view almost without interruption since 1842. In that year it was relined, and the injured portions restored.

Very few examples of English needlework of the twelfth century are known. There is some doubt as to the correctness of the tra- dition which assigns to Archbishop Thomas & Becket, of Canterbury (martyred 1170), the beautiful chasuble and mitre in Sens Cathe- dral. The golden scrollwork with which each is embroidered is of a simple and dignified character. They may perhaps be English, but the influence of Byzantine tradition was still dominant, and national characteristics had not strongly developed. We are on safer ground with regard to some important fragments preserved in the library of Worcester Cathedral. These consist of shreds of vestments, taken in the year 1870 from the stone coffin of a bishop, probably William de Blois, who held the see from 1218 to 1236. Some portions of a silken stole and maniple (?) are, beyond doubt, earlier than this bishop's time